How to Reach Beijing

China’s international airlines often offer lower rates than foreign carriers for direct, nonstop flights. Many of them have partnerships with international airlines, so you can still cash in on those frequent flyer miles. Air China is one of the better airlines. Only one major airport, Beijing Capital International airport (PEK), serves Beijing.

By Train

From Hung Hom station in Kowloon (Hong Kong), expresses run directly to Beijing West Station on alternate days. From Moscow there are weekly trains via Ulaan Baatar in Mongolia to Beijing, and weekly trains via a more easterly route directly to Harbin in China’s northeast and down to the capital. There’s also a separate weekly run from Ulaan Baatar to Beijing. Trains run twice weekly from Hanoi in Vietnam to Beijing West via Guilin. There’s also a service between Beijing and Pyongyang in North Korea, but you’ll only be on that if you’ve joined an organized tour.